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French media call time on Strauss-Kahn's political career

IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn is taken out of a police station in New York on May 15, 2011.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) widely tipped to run for his country's presidency

Many in France believe he was well placed to unseat the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy

Dominique Strauss-Kahn facing allegations of sexual assault while staying at New York hotel

(CNN) -- The arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn over an alleged sexual assault at a New York hotel predictably dominated the front pages of France's newspapers Monday, with most focusing on the likely damage to his political career.

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) appeared in court Monday to answer allegations of sexual assault. Benjamin Brafman, one of the IMF chief's attorneys, vowed Sunday to vigorously defend him in court, insisting his client is innocent.

Strauss-Kahn was widely tipped to run for his country's presidency in the 2012 elections, with many believing he was the man to unseat Nicolas Sarkozy.

Le Monde also chose to use the "thunderbolt" idiom as it described the impact of Strauss-Kahn's arrest on his party, the Socialist Party of France (PS). As if to reinforce the feeling in France that the former finance minister was a genuine presidential contender from the left, its headline asked: "Who can take over the Socialist Party?"

"DSK OUT" was the unequivocal declaration from the left-leaning Libération. "The Socialists have lost the candidate who was riding high in the polls ... (and was) the best placed to beat (President) Nicolas Sarkozy," it wrote.

However it also chose to publish comments made by the 62-year old in April when he reportedly said the three most difficult issues for his presidential bid would be: "Money, women and my Jewishness."

"Yes I like women ... So what? ... For years there's been talk of photos of massive orgies, but nothing has ever come out .... So, let them show them," the paper quoted him as saying.

The IMF chief's critics had described him as a "champagne socialist" and attacked his apparent luxury lifestyle and fondness for women, according to French media reports.

France Soir, a popular French tabloid, proclaimed the "DSK drama" had jeopardized his political chances. Its headline was accompanied by a picture of the economist with his head in his hands.

It also carried quotes from his wife, Anne Sinclair, who expressed her shock at the allegations. In a statement she said: "I do not believe the accusations against my husband, not for one second." Calling for decency and restraint, she insisted "I do not doubt that his innocence will be established."

Ouest France, a provincial French daily, reported news of Strauss-Kahn having a potential alibi. Citing a report from Radio Monte Carlo, it said lawyers had apparently retraced his schedule and found that Strauss-Kahn had left his hotel at noon, an hour before the alleged assault on the chambermaid.